Self-aligning sleeve display device



United States Patent SELF-ALIGNING SLEEVE DISPLAY DEVICE Harry Katzman, Welland, Ontario, Canada Application February 4, 1954, Serial No. 408,091

14 Claims. (Cl. 223-74) This invention relates generally to garment display devices and more particularly to an improved self-adjusting form adapted to realistically fill out various size coat sleeves to enhance the appearance of garments set out for advertising display purposes.

Presently, coats are generally displayed on armless mannequins, or the like, for the reason that coat sleeves are made in various sizes and shapes to suit various size individuals. Therefore, it is necessary to provide a suitable sleeve form, or alternatively, to carefully pad each sleeve with a suitable stufiing material to fill out the coat sleeves for advantageously displaying the material and styling of the coat. The latter alternative involves a careful and laborious process since the stufiing material must be fairly evenly distributed below the sleeve material to present a wrinkle-free sleeve appearance.

While various sleeve form devices have been proposed heretofore, it is an object of the present invention to provide an improved sleeve form of the type referred to comprising a generally hollow duo-sectional form preferably molded out of a suitable plastic material to have an external contoured surface of sleeve-like shape. These sections will be provided with aligned rib portions interiorly of their ends and having means arranged to telescopingly interconnect thereat. There will also be provided centrally located rib sections for receiving the hinge plates of a hinge, one of the plates being telescopingly fitted into its respective rib section and having adjustment means for varying the position of the plate relative to its rib section. Thus, the ends of the form sections will be self-aligning at each adjusted position of the hinge to fit various size and shape sleeves.

Another object of the invention is to provide a selfaligning sleeve display device of the character referred to above, which is adapted to be simply slip fitted into various size coat sleeves to cause the sleeve material to drape gracefully from the shoulder of an armless mannequin, or the like.

Still another object of the invention is to provide a selfaligning sleeve display device of the character referred to above, having its cooperating sections each readily adapted to be formed for example in one piece by an injection molding process, or the like.

Still another object of the invention is to provide a sleeve display device of the character referred to, which may be inexpensively mass produced and which is light, durable and easy to manipulate.

And still another object of the invention is to provide, in combination, a pair of longitudinally separated members externally contoured into arm-shaped form, hinge connection means intermediate the ends of said members, telescoping connection means interconnecting said ends so as to be movable toward and away from each other in aligned relation, and adjustment means between said hinge means and one of said members whereby said members will be self-aligning at various positions of adjustment thereof as aforesaid.

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Other objects and advantages will appear from the specification hereinafter.

In the drawing:

Fig. 1 is a perspective view showing an embodiment of the invention;

Fig. 2 is a generally sectional view taken on the line 2-2 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a generally sectional view taken on the line 3-3 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 4 is a generally sectional view taken on the line 4-4 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 5 is an enlarged fragmentary generally sectional view taken on the line 5-5 of Fig. 1; and

Fig. 6 is a fragmentary perspective view showing a modification of the invention.

Referring now more particularly to the drawing, the embodiment of the invention illustrated therein is shown to comprise a pair of longitudinally separated members 10-12 of generally concavo-convex cross-sectional form (Figs. 1, 2, 3 and 4), being externally contoured into a simulated arm shape in order to be adapted to be slip fitted into a coat sleeve, or the like, to enhance the esthetic appeal of a garment display. a

The members 10-12 will preferably be formed fro a suitable light weight plastic material such as, for example, polystyrene, by any of the well known plastic forming processes. These members may be initially formed from integral molded units which will be halved along the lines 14-16 to provide pairs of the members 10-12 in perfectly mating alignment. However, if preferred, it will be apparent that these members may be individually formed so as to be in interchangeably mating condition by virtue of being adapted to be mold formed from plastic material as aforesaid since the molds may be made to close dimensional tolerances to provide forms with a high degree of uniformity.

As shown in Figs. 1 and 2, the upper end portions of the members 10-12 will be provided with. aligned transverse web portions 18-20 of generally elliptical quadrant form extending inwardly to a position substantially medially thereof. The inner edges of the web portions 18-20 are shown to be beaded or enlarged as indicated at 22-24 to provide opposed aligned elongate holes therein substantially axially of the transverse axis of the elliptical-like cross-sectional outline as shown in Fig. 2, one of which being adapted to receive one end of a pin 26 in press-fitted relation therein as shown at 28 while the other being adapted to receive the other end of the pin in loosely journalled telescoping relation therein as shown at 30 (Fig. 2). The lower end portions of the members 10-12 are also shown to be provided with aligned transverse web portions 34-36 having beaded portions 38-40 providing opposed aligned elongate holes substantially axially of the transverse axis of the elliptical-like cross-sectional outline as shown in Fig. 4 to similarly fit a pin 42 for loosely telescoping connection therebetween.

As shown in Figs. 1 and 3, a pair of aligned transverse central web or flange portions 46-48 will be provided intermediate the aforesaid pairs of transverse aligned web portions 18-20 and 34-36 to accommodate a hinge connection 50. The central webportions 46-48 are shown to be of generally elliptical quadrant form in plan view and extend laterally inwardly of the members 10-12 beyond the transverse axis of the elliptical cross-sectional outline as shown in Fig. 3. The inner end portions of the central web portions 46-48 will be recessed to provide a pair of opposed slots therein aligned substantially axially of the transverse axis of the elliptical-like cross-sectional outline shown in Fig. 3 whereby an end plate 56 of the hinge connection 50 may be press fitted into one of said slots while the other end plate 58 may be slip fitted for telescoping engagement in the other of said slots, it being understood that the axis of the hinge pin connection will be perpendicularly related to the longitudinal edges 14 and 16 of the form members 10 and 12 whereby the outer surfaces of the latter form members will present a smoothly contoured outline in all positions of pivotal adjustment therebetween whereas the aforesaid loosely telescoping connections will serve to strengthen the form against lateral deflection of its parts. A retaining screw 60 may be fitted through the central web portion 46 and the end plate 56 to prevent disengagement therebetween.

The hinge plate 58 will be enlarged to provide an elongate aperture 62 therein having one of its elongate edges lying substantially along the transverse axis of the elliptical-like cross-sectional outline shown in Fig. 3 and being cut therealong to form a gear rack 64 adapted to be operatively meshed with a flat rotatable pinion gear 66 mounted in the aperture 62 and having a thickness substantially equal to the hinge plate thickness and being positionally fixed in the web portion 48 adjacent the edge 16 of the member 12 to provide a maximum range of adjustment thereby (Figs. 3 and A torque rod 68 is shown to be journalled at its opposite end portions in the web portions 36 and 48 in the manner indicated at 70 and 72, respectively, being fitted near its upper end for driving engagement with the pinion gear 66 by means of a shouldered portion 74 and being retained in mounted position by a nut 76 threaded over the reduced diameter threaded end portion 77 as shown in Figs. 3 and 5. The lower end portion of the torque rod 68 is bent into a looped finger gripping portion 78 positionally arranged short of the lower edge of the member 12. It will be appreciated that the lower edge of the member 12 will be notched as indicated at 80 (Fig. 1) to provide clearance to permit easy manual manipulation of the rod portion 78 for turning the pinion gear 66 without the portion 78 protruding below or out of the sleeve form members -12. It will be appreciated that the members 10--12 will be retained at each selective position of adjustment of the rack and pinion by virtue of the frictional resistance to movement in the device. For this purpose the journal connections 70 and 72 will be arranged to align the torque rod 68 positionally angularly of the outer wall portion of the member 12 adjacent the edge 16 thereof to thereby increase the frictional resistance to movement of the adjustment mechanism.

A pair of integral angularly extending lug portions 82 and 84 may be provided to protrude from the upper ends of the members 10 and 12, respectively, being interconnected by a cord 86 cut to a predetermined length as hereinafter noted and being useful for hooking the form assembly on suitably located hooks secured in the vicinity of the shoulders of an armless coat display dummy. It will be appreciated to be a feature of the invention that the point of suspension provided by the aforesaid cord and hook, as a result of the above construction, may be arranged to be selectively located relative to the mass center of gravity of the form assembly in order that said form in mounted position will tend to hang in any preferred position relative to the dummy body to more realistically fill out the coat sleeves. Thus, for example, the lugs 8284 may be bent angularly inwardly to place the point of suspension in a vertical plane containing the mass center of gravity when in mounted position and forwardly thereof whereby the sleeve will tend to hang adjacent the dummy body with its lower portion tending to hang further forwardly of the upper portion under the influence of gravitational force. Alternatively, these lugs may be made as shown in Fig. 6 in the form of curvilinear inwardly extending flanges 82'84 adapted to snugly embrace the end shoulder portions of a dummy body 85 and being fixed thereto by means of a cord 86' arranged to be held in place by a tack, or the like, whereby the sleeve form will be supported in positionally aligned relation relative to the dummy body.

It will also be appreciated that the hinge 50 will be arranged to have its hinge pin facing downwardly of the hinge plates 56 and 58 whereby the members 1012 will be limited in their pivotal movement to the maximum open position of the hinge, i. e., that position whereby the form member edges 14 and 16 are relatively parallel. Thus, the members 10-12 will pivot about the hinge 50 from their parallel aligned position to close inwardly at the bottom and open outwardly at the top. In this manner the freely telescoping pin connections 26 and 42 will be retained against disengagement in the maximum spaced apart position of the form halves 1012. This is accomplished at the upper end by making the cord 86 to a predetermined length to limit the maximum separation between the lugs 82 and 84 and thereby maintain the parts in assembled relation.

Thus, it will be appreciated to be a primary feature of the invention that the form halves 1012 will be relatively self-aligning to conform to the inside dimensions of variously shaped sleeves when inserted therein by virtue of the medial hinge connection as hereinabove more particularly described. Furthermore, another feature of the invention resides in the fact that the form members 10-12 will fill out a coat sleeve by bearing outwardly with uni form pressure along the length of the sleeve by virtue of the form expanding arrangement hereinabove described whereby the sleeve material will be uniformly tensioned over the external surface of the sleeve form to display the Weave and styling thereof to best advantage.

It will also be appreciated to be a further feature of the invention that the sleeve form arrangement described herein is particularly easy to adjust while in mounted position from externally of a coat display by simply turning the looped portion 78 of the torque rod in the appropriate direction.

Therefore, it will be understood that although only one particular form of the invention has been shown and described in detail, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that the invention is not so limited but that various other changes may be made therein without departing from the spirit of the invention or the scope of the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. A sleeve display device for slip-fitting into a coat sleeve to fill it for display purposes comprising a longitudinally halved generally hollow form having an external envelope of simulated sleeve shape, loosely telescoping connection means at the ends of said form halves to maintain them in lateral alignment, single-acting hinge means having hinge plates interconnecting said form halves intermediate said telescoping connection means, the hinge pin axis being located downwardly of said hinge plates and being substantially lateral relative to the side portions of the form halves adjacent the line of demarcation therebetween, an elongate cord of predetermined length interconnecting the upper ends of said form halves for limiting the maximum separation therebetween and to provide means for suspending said device, and manually operable expansion means between one of said hinge plates and the corresponding form half whereby said form halves will be adapted to be freely rockable in laterally aligned relation between fixed limits at each position of adjustment of said expansion means to freely assume positions in conformity with said sleeve to apply a uniformly distributed outward pressure throughout its length.

2. A sleeve display device adapted to be slip-fitted into a coat sleeve for filling thereof comprising a pair of elongate longitudinally separated members of substantially hollow generally elliptical cross-sectional exterior form having their exterior surfaces shaped longitudinally there- Of into a generally sleeve-like appearance, said members having aligned coplanar generally elliptical quadrant shaped web portions at their ends and intermediate thereof, loosely telescoping connection means interengaging the end web portions, means rockably interconnecting the intermediate web portions for laterally aligned rocking movements of said members from a parallel aligned position to angularly adjusted positions for free alignment with the inside surfaces of variously contoured coat sleeves, and manually-operable adjustment means for selective adjustment of the spacing between said intermediate web portions without interference with said rocking movements to fit said members in various size coat sleeves.

3. A sleeve display device comprising, in combination, a pair of longitudinally separated members of generally concavo-convex cross-sectional exterior form having a generally sleeve-shaped external surface, pivot connection means between said members located intermediate the ends thereof for permitting laterally aligned relative rocking movements of said members, adjustment means for selectively varying the spacing between said members Without interference with said rocking movement and being operable independently of said pivot connection means, and loosely fitted telescoping connection means between the ends of said members whereby said device will be slip-fitted into a sleeve in self-aligning relation to fit the interior dimensions of a sleeve by actuation of said adjustment means.

4. An expansible sleeve form comprising a pair of longitudinal sleeve form members, pivotal connection means interconnecting the medial portions of said members, said connection means including manually operable adjustment means adapted to expand for lateral opposite relative displacement of said form members without limiting free movement of said members about said pivotal connection means, and interfitting slidable alignment maintaining means interconnecting said members adjacent one of their respective ends, whereby said adjustment means may be manually operable to relatively outwardly displace said medial portions within a sleeve for separating said members incidental to causing them to freely assume a position in conformity with the shape thereof.

5. A sleeve display device for slip-fitting into a sleeve to fill it for display purposes comprising a longitudinally halved hollow form of simulated sleeve shape, interfitting slidable alignment maintaining means interconnecting the ends of the form halves, hinge means having hinge plates pivotally interconnecting the medial portions of said form halves by means of a hinge pin, the axis of said hinge pin being substantially laterally positioned relative to the outer side wall portions of the form halves adjacent the line of demarcation therebetween, and manually adjustable expansion means operable to separate said medial portions of said form halves within a sleeve whereby said members' will be freely rockable in laterally aligned relation at each position of adjustment of said expansion means to freely assume positions in conformity with the sleeve to apply a uniformly distributed outward pressure throughout its length.

6. A sleeve display device adapted to be slip-fitted into a coat sleeve for filling thereof comprising a pair of substantially hollow elongate longitudinally separated members of simulated sleeve shape, slidable loosely interfitting alignment maintaining means connecting the end portions of said members, means rockably interconnecting the medial portions of said members for permitting laterally aligned freely rocking relative movements of said members between limits determined by clearances in said alignment maintaining means, and adjustment means operable to separate the medial portions of said members within a sleeve without interfering with the freely rocking movements of said members whereby said members will be freely rockable in laterally aligned relation at each position of adjustment of said adjustment means to freely assume positions in conformity with said coat sleeve to apply a uniformly distributed outward pressure throughout.

7. A sleeve display device comprising, in combination, a pair of elongate longitudinally separated members of sleeve-shaped external form, means interconnecting the medial portions of said members for permitting free laterally aligned relative rocking movements thereof and including adjustment means manually operable to separate the medial portions of said members without restricting said rocking movements, whereby said members will be freely self-aligning to fit the interior dimensions of a sleeve to apply a uniformly distributed outward pressure throughout. I

8. An expansible sleeve form comprising, in combination, a pair of longitudinal sleeve form members mated to provide an external sleeve form surface, hinge means interconnecting the medial portions of said members and including manually operable adjustment means for selective lateral opposite relative displacement of said medial portions without restricting free rocking of said form members at each position of adjustment, and freely interfitting alignment maintaining means interconnecting said members adjacent one of their respective ends whereby said adjustment means will be manually operable to selectively separate the medial portions of said members within a sleeve to cause said members to freely assume relative positions conforming to said sleeve interior.

9. An expansible sleeve form comprising, in combination, a pair of generally hollow rigid sleeve form members mated to provide an external sleeve form surface, pivotal connection means movably interconnecting the medial portions of said members and providing a pivot axis between said form members substantially laterally positioned relative thereto, and manually operable adjustment means for selective lateral opposite relative displacement of said medial portions without interfering with free movements of said form members at their various positions of adjustment, whereby said adjustment means will be manually operable to selectively separate said medial portions of said members within a sleeve to cause said members to freely assume relative laterally aligned positions in conformity with said sleeve.

10. A sleeve display device comprising, in combination, a pair of longitudinally separated rigid members of sleeve-shaped external form, hinge means having hinge plates interconnecting the medial portions of said members for permitting substantially laterally aligned relatively free rocking movements of said members, one of said hinge plates interconnecting its respective medial portion by being slidably engaged therein and being cut away to provide a gear rack, and means including a pinion gear and shaft being rotatably mounted in said respective medial portion for engagement with said gear rack so as to be operable to selectively maintain said medial portions at various positions of separation within a sleeve whereby said members will be freely aligned in conformance with a sleeve.

11. A sleeve display device comprising, in combination, a pair of longitudinally separated rigid members of sleeve-shaped external form, hinge means having hinge plates interconnecting the medial portions of said members for permitting substantially laterally aligned relatively free rocking movements of said members, one, of said hinge plates interconnecting its respective medial portion by being slidably engaged therein and being cut away to provide a gear rack, means including a pinion gear and shaft being rotatably mounted on said respective medial portion, said pinion gear being arranged for meshing engagement with said gear rack so as to be operable to selectively maintain said medial portions at various positions of separation Within a sleeve, and slidable interfitting alignment maintaining means interconnecting the adjacent ends of said members whereby said members will be freely self-aligning to fit the interior dimensions of a sleeve.

12. A sleeve display device for slip-fitting into a coat sleeve to fill it for display purposes comprising, in combination, a longitudinally halved generally hollow form having an external envelope of simulated sleeve shape, the upper ends of the form halves being formed to project laterally inwardly into curvilinear flange portions adapted to embrace the end shoulder portions of an armless mannequin to hang therefrom, loosely-fitted telescoping means interconnecting the ends of said form halves to maintain them in lateral alignment, singleacting hinge means having a hinge pin oifset downwardly of a pair of hinge plates arranged to movably interconnect the medial portions of said form halves, the hinge pin axis being substantially laterally positioned relative to the side portions of the form halves adjacent the line of demarcation therebetween, an elongate cord of predetermined length interconnecting the upper ends of said form halves for limiting the maximum separation therebetween and to provide means for attaching said device to an armless mannequin, and manually operable expansion means between one of said hinge plates and the corresponding form half, whereby said form halves will be adapted to be freely rockable in laterally aligned relation between fixed limits at each position of adjustment of said expansion means to freely assume positions in conformity with said sleeve to apply a uniformly distributed outward pressure throughout its length.

13. A self-aligning sleeve display device comprising a pair of longitudinally separated members having their exterior surfaces shaped into a sleeve-like appearance, and means interconnecting said members intermediate their ends, said means including pivot means having a pivot axis substantially laterally positioned relative to the outer sides of said members for permitting free laterally aligned relative movements between the ends thereof together with adjustment means operable independently of said pivot means for selectively separating said members without interfering with the free relative movement of their ends.

14. A self-aligning sleeve display device as recited in claim 13, and telescoping means interconnecting said members at a point removed from their medial points of connection for assisting in maintaining their lateral alignment while otherwise permitting free relative movement of their ends as set forth.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 373,379 Rupprecht Nov. 15, 1887 979,023 Mollberg Dec, 20, 1910 1,018,724 Mollberg et a1. Feb. 27, 1912 2,110,657 Berg Mar. 8, 1938 2,693,302 Journey Nov. 2, 1954 

